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She said the bus will help the mission of Cy-Hope, which started as part of the Foundry United Methodist Church in 2011 by a group of concerned congregation members.

"We saw a gap in our community," she said. "We felt there were some needs that weren't being met."

Specifically, they were worried about the growing number of at-risk students in the area. In 2010, when the group started its research into the community, members found that 40 percent of the school district's population was considered "at risk" because of low income. The label is given when a family of four makes less than $40,000, she added.

The group also found that 37 percent of the students were receiving free lunches.

Zelenka said that this year there are 114,000 students in the district, and almost half are labeled at-risk

"There's a lot of poverty around us in the community," she said.

Zelenka said that Cy-Fair ISD is the third-largest independent school district in the state and the largest non-urban school district in the country.

She added that the school district's boundaries are used to define the suburban area of Cy-Fair, an unincorporated community northwest of Houston.

"It would be the 16th- largest city in the U.S. if we were incorporated," Zelenka said. "It would be the size of Indianapolis."

Since there is not a central government in the area, residents have to face the issue themselves, she explained.

The Foundry decided to support the cause by forming a nonprofit organization.

"We saw a need for the group to be community-driven," Zelenka said.

The group's first project was its "Backpack Program" in partnership with the Houston Food Bank.

"We thought, 'Kids are getting breakfast and lunch during the school week, but what's happening during the weekend?' " Zelenka said.

Cy-Hope worked with the Food Bank to assemble bags full of enough food to sustain children through the weekend.

The effort started in 2011 with two volunteers, filling 80 bags and delivering them to two schools.

By the end of the first year, 32 schools were being served.

This year, Cy-Hope's Backpack Program has 100 volunteers, working with 73 schools to help 2,000 district children.

The group's next mission was to provide dual credit certification and scholarship opportunities for at-risk students, now known as Providing Opportunities Program.

"We do what we do to see kids transformed - whether you feed them, give them a scholarship or give them a culinary uniform" Zelenka said. "We're giving them a hands-up in life. It's just a gift so they can see the potential in themselves. So they can look in the mirror, and say, 'I can do this.' "

Roy Garcia, associate superintendent for school administration and leadership development for Cy-Fair ISD, also serves on the group's board.

"Cy-Hope is a phenomenal community partner for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD," he said. "Cy-Hope works diligently to support CFISD in providing the very best opportunities for our students, especially those who need additional support. Their partnership is centered on giving to the heart of the community, our schools and most importantly our children."

Cy-Hope also operates the Center for Children and Families, a counseling facility.

There are a variety of therapists on deck to provide counseling and play therapy for children. There are also social skills groups and programs for special needs children. Charges are on a sliding scale, depending on income.

Cy-Hope has expanded to also include music initiatives, a baseball academy and summer camps.

The organization Cy-Hope has created two "Hope Centers," one in the Longhorn Trailer Park and another at Windfern Trails Apartments.

The organization purchased a trailer and rents an apartment.

At each facility, kids can come for tutoring, life skills classes, Bible study, sports, games and mentoring.

"We're trying to keep kids on task," Zelenka said.

The Hope Centers also provide a location to offer English and citizenship classes to adults.

Zelenka said her vision for the STEM bus began while building the Hope Centers.

"This has been a dream for so long," she said. "Now we're taking the first step to make it happen. It's going to be a mobile Hope Center, but focused on math and science."

She is currently reaching out to high school students in art and architecture programs for ideas about how to retrofit the inside and decorate the outside of the buses.